Platform

by Manasvini Moni

Platform

‘नई दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन में आपका स्वागत है।’

A flood of people rushing out of trains.

Drops from the sky. Unbridled rain.

Circling around me like a hurricane.

‘अरे भाई ज़रा ध्यान से चलो

कहीं फिसल जाओगे!’

I hear what you say but

I’m used to it. I (slip and) fall everyday

Fall for every new face

My vision is hazy

I hope desperately

For someone to stay

पर समय नहीं रुकता किसी के लिए,

ना ही रुकते हैं लोग।

My heart beats slower with every loss -

ये ज़िंदगी है या कोई रोग?

Savour whoever

crosses your path

For as hard as you wish

it may not last

My life is a platform

आगमन और प्रस्थान

I blink and you’re gone

The engine rumbles

and my feet stumble

But it won’t be long

before I find my ground.